The researchers studied how dust storms mixed with air pollutants affect the climate in Northwest China. They measured the physical and optical properties of these pollutants during a fieldwork experiment. They found that levels of air pollutants were lower during dust storms compared to urban pollution episodes. Dust storms significantly increased the concentration of particulate matter in the air. The mixing of dust and pollutants can impact air quality in areas far from the dust source, leading to uncertainties in global climate effects in Northwest China.